Safety Guide

Stay safe on the railway

www.networkrail.co.uk/safetyeducation

Safety Guide / 2

millionpassenger journeys in Britain every day

peoplehave died at level

crossings in Britain in the last 5 years

Stay safe on the railwayBritain has one of the busiest rail networks in the world: every day there are about 3 million passenger journeys.

The fastest intercity trains travel at an average speed of 125mph, powered by electricity in overhead lines that’s 100 times greater than the supply in your home.

There is also an electrified rail that has electricity three times more powerful than that delivered by your computer or tv.

A train weighs 400 tonnes on average – that’s equivalent to about 80 elephants. After putting on the brakes, it travels approximately 2,000 metres or the length of 20 Premier League football pitches before stopping.

Whether or not you’re a regular user of the railway, here’s what you need to know about staying safe.

3

44

There are about

The electricity powering the railway is 100 times greater

than in the home

Level crossings – life savers, not time wastersLevel crossings enable us to safely cross the railway. The number of deaths at level crossings is low in Britain compared with other countries, but tragically 44 people have died in recent years.

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STop

WaiT

WaLk

How to use a level crossing There are different types of level crossing and they don’t all look the same. The main types you’re most likely to encounter are barrier crossings (full or half), or an open crossing. There are also footpath crossings, found mainly in rural areas.

Half barrier crossings – What to look out forHalf barrier crossings have just one barrier that covers half the road and an alarm that continues until the barrier is raised again.

Barrier Crossings Full barrier crossings – What to look out forFull barrier crossings have warning lights and an alarm. Barriers cover the whole road and the alarm stops once the barriers are lowered.

What to doAt a barrier crossing, don’t go around or jump the barrier when it is closing or down. If you’re wearing headphones, take them off. Stay alert.

STop when you see the red lights flashing and hear the alarm ringing – stay behind the white line.

WaiT if the red lights carry on flashing after the train has gone by – another train will be passing soon.

WaLk only when the lights go off and the barriers open. Look both ways when you are crossing.

Red lights flashing after the train

has passed means another train is

coming soon

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Footpath crossings What to look out forYou’ll mainly find these in the country. It may seem like a peaceful spot but trains can travel through at high speeds. There will be stiles or gates and some may not have warning lights.

Look both ways when you’re

crossing

it may seem peaceful but trains can travel through level crossings at

high speed

open crossingsWhat to look out forThese crossings have no barriers and may not have warning lights. Look out for the signs.

STop

Look

LiSTEN

STop

Look

LiSTEN

What to doTake extra care and stay alert. If you’re wearing headphones, take them off.

STOP when you reach the crossing.LOOK both ways to make sure nothing is coming.LISTEN carefully before you cross. Continue to look both ways when you’re crossing.

What to doTake extra care, stay alert and if you’re wearing headphones, take them off. Follow the signs. If the crossing has red warning lights you must not cross until they go green. If there’s a sign telling you to call for permission to cross, you must use the phone provided to speak to a member of the railway. They will tell you when to cross.

STOP when you reach the crossing.LOOK both ways to make sure nothing is coming.LISTEN carefully before you cross. Continue to look both ways when you’re crossing.

Persons in chargeof animals, phonesignalman beforecrossing

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The facts– The ‘third rail’ looks like a normal railway rail, but is electrified.

The electricity is so strong that if you touch the rail, you will be seriously injured or killed.

– The third rail and overhead lines have electricity flowing through them at all times and are never switched off.

– Electricity in overhead lines can ‘jump’. You don’t have to touch the overhead lines to get electrocuted. If you fly a kite or dangle things from bridges near the overhead power lines, the electricity can arc like lightning or jump up to 3 metres.

– Young people have been seriously burnt or killed by climbing on trains which has brought them close to the overhead lines.

– Others have been hurt by touching objects in contact with overhead lines or conductor rails.

ElectrificationTrains are powered by electricity carried through overhead lines or a conductor rail, sometimes called the third rail. The third rail has 750 volts passing through it. Overhead lines carry 25,000 volts – that’s 100 times greater than the power supply in your home. Tragically, 69 people have been electrocuted on the railway in the last 10 years.

peoplepeople have been electrocuted on

the railway in the last 10 years

69

Fact: The third rail and

overhead lines have electricity flowing

through them at all times

Fact: Rubber-soled shoes will not

protect you from the electricity

keep safe – Never play with a kite or balloon near overhead lines by the railway.

– Never walk (or run) on the railway track – you can’t tell which rail is electrified. Always use a level crossing to cross the railway.

– You may see danger warning signs at train stations and along the tracks. They are there to keep you safe. Never ignore a railway sign.

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peoplewere killed after trespassing on

the railway track in 2011

50

Trespass and vandalismTrespass on the railway can have tragic consequences. In 2011, 50 people were killed after taking shortcuts and trespassing on the railway track, and there were 445 recorded near misses between trespassers and trains.

Vandalism is when someone deliberately damages railway property. The most common types of vandalism that occur on the railway include graffiti, littering, fly-tipping and damaging railway property (such as fences, bridges, signs and tracks). It costs the industry millions of pounds each year, which could have been spent on improving the rail service.

know the law – A criminal record stays with you for life.

– If someone puts an object on the track which causes an accident, the maximum sentence is life imprisonment.

– If a child is charged with causing a train accident, their parent or guardian may be prosecuted too.

– Trespassing on the railway track is a criminal offence with a maximum fine of £1,000.

The facts– Trains produce wind turbulence so powerful that it can drag

somebody standing next to the tracks under the wheels of the train.

– Graffiti is criminal damage and carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

– Whenever you’re on the track you’re at risk of serious injury or death from trains and high voltage electricity.

– Putting objects on the track (like stones or shopping trolleys) could cause an accident which may hurt or kill other people. Even a small object can derail a train.

Causing a train accident could lead to prosecution and life imprisonment

Graffiti is criminal damage

and carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years

www.networkrail.co.uk/safetyeducation

Safety Guide

Stay safe on the railway

www.rail-life.co.ukFor further information email:communitysafety@networkrail.co.uk

this Rail Life Safety Guide was published in august 2012.images have been compressed for easier download.